Bent steel, how bad is this?

U

Uhurungus

Joined
Jan 8, 2015
Messages
62
all 3 bending in different directions to each other. front one at the ends, middle one in the middle, back one least of the 3 but ends as well.

3 lengths of 48" some better than others. Based on other threads this seems fairly common. Is it bad enough that i want to start straightening or cut it up in blanks first and then try or not even mess with it?

Only equip i have is small hammers and 6" of railroad track.


 
Last edited:
PHoto doesn't show, but I'd think cut up into blade lengths and straighten then.

Ken H>
 
photo up now. yeah i really wanna rip into this but i'll wait until i get a better idea of the correct approach.
 
I got some .070" stock from Aldo recently that had a lot of twist and a little curve. They advised me that when you cut it into pieces there will be some kind of tension released that will let it un-warp.

So that's what I did. It might have helped, though on a 6" blade the amount of twist wasn't too noticeable either. And what twist there was got mostly ground off anyway. But that slight curve bugged me and once I start trying to straighten something it seems like I never stop, it just gets worse and worse. I'd rather start with something perfectly flat, if possible.
 
Yes, its something that happens regularly and I think if you want to make knives with regular bar stock , learn to deal with it as you get it. If you have a large vise, stick the bent end in it positioning the bar so that the bend is about level with the vise jaw. Now take the far end and pull on it just a bit to see what is happening and go from there with more or repositioning the bar if you think it will help. No large vise? I then suggest you prop up the bar with a thin piece of metal and give it a hit with a hammer. Bar stock is usually very easy to bend. Returning only means the next time or from the next place might bring you more of the same.
Frank
 
Making knives requires knowing how to work metal. Having steel arrive bent should not be a major concern. If you are limited in the tools you have look to leverage for your advantage. If you can get most of the bend out by using the length of the steel bar as leverage against itself then do that. A good strong vise and a long length of black pipe in a diameter that fits over the end of your steel bar can be helpful. Putting the bar on the floor with a block of wood or other device as a riser under the ends of the bar and standing on it can work too. The best thing I have found so far is getting a cheap shop press from Harbor Freight. I cut the bar to the length I need for the blade then use the press to carefully work out all the bends and twists.
 
If you forge, it doesn't matter. If you do stock removal, it does. I have never gotten a bent piece of steel from Aldo, Pop, or Sheffield. I also buy in quantity, so when say 8 pieces of steel are strapped together they are a lot less likely to bend.
I have straightened out steel by placing on a table saw table to see where the bend is, then using a rawhide mallet with the steel on a steel block, I straighten. Sometimes the steel is bent and also twisted. This causes more problems. In that case I use a vice to hold one end of the steel and a pipe wrench to straighten.
When I order steel for stock removal, I make sure to request the supplier to tape the steel up so it doesn't get bent in shipping.
It is a lot nicer to stock remove with straight steel rather than try to fix bent steel.
 
What type of steel is it?? If it is in the annealed state you should be able to straighten it cold. It is always good to to do at least a normalizing cycle anyway. If it is 1095 from Pacific they shear it from a larger plate. That may be why it is bent. If you have problems getting the kinks out let me know and you can come down and we will put it in the forge.
 
The only time you'll ever be guaranteed to get truly straight and flat stock if is you're buying precision ground stock. Most tool steel bars are cut from sheet, and those sheets are formed in ginormous rolls, and they almost all have some curve or bend to them, particularly thin stock.
 
Straightening steel is part of knowing how to make knives.

It's kind of like learning or knowing how to sharpen a knife, not all makers know how to sharpen.
 
Don Hanson III said:
Straightening steel is part of knowing how to make knives.
Click to expand...


i'm happy to hear this. i wasn't concerned about it past do i need to do anything about it. i got the steel from a super nice guy that cut me a deal and in no way am i complaining. also sending it back was the last thing i want to do. i've been waiting to get my hands on some steel for 2 weeks now and finally got it so yesterday was a good day!

Chuck - thanks for the offer. i would absolutely LOVE to come down and visit your shop sometime. that goes for anyone in the portland area. i know Nick Wheeler is close and there are a bunch of us here close and in eugene area.

as a new maker (can't even call myself that yet) i have many questions about the process and myself. i was scared to death last night just before i started my first grind on the new steel that i couldn't do it. but you know what, i did it and it looked damn good. until that is, i messed something up. but i made it further this time than the last time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top